Agency worker aided endangered species

Holly Freifeld, vertebrate recovery coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Honolulu, is one 16 employees recognized with a 2007 National Recovery Champion Award for outstanding efforts to recover threatened and endangered species. Freifeld's efforts have benefited the Hawaiian petrel, Newell's shearwater, Laysan duck and Mariana fruit bat.

Anna Dobos, a Hilo High School junior, is the grand prize winner of the 2008 Congressional Art Contest, "Kaha Ki'i: An Artistic Discovery," from the 2nd Congressional District. Her winning work, "Awaiting the Ride Home," will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol. Dobos earned a round-trip visit to Washington with her art teacher, Gale Wallace,

Amanda Bowers of Baldwin High on Maui won second place, and Chy Ann Raymond of Kapolei High took third place. Bowers will have her art displayed in Congresswoman Mazie Hirono's Washington office and Raymond's work will hang in Hirono's Honolulu office.

The Hawaii State Egg on display this year at the White House was designed by Dania Blackmer Zempel ofthe Big Island. She attended the presentation to First Lady Laura Bush March 10. The state eggs can be viewed at www.whitehouse.gov/easter/2008/eggsbystate/